CORRECTED STOUTS FIRE MORNING UPDATE – AUGUST 8, 2015

Downloadable file: State Fire Marshal Incident Commander Ted Kunze discusses structure protection transitionThis corrected version of the news release is being issued because of a change in the meeting time for the community meeting in Milo, OR on Sunday, August 9. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m., rather than 6:30 p.m., as previously stated.

Friday’s night crews continued to make significant progress on the Stouts Creek Fire with several areas of the fire in the mop up stages and containment increasing to 30%. Now at 21,858 acres, the fire remains active on the northeast and southeast edges of the perimeter and residents can expect to see smoke and possibly flames on the ridge above Tiller-Trail Highway.

Helicopters will continue to be visible along the South Umpqua River as they work on hot spots and in support of fire fighting activities. Residents¬¬ also might see air tankers working in addition to the helicopters depending on the fire activity level. Motorists are encouraged to use extreme caution if they encounter smoke on roadways. Treat it as you would fog and turn on your headlights. We encourage those wanting to stop along the road to watch the firefighting efforts to continue moving in order to maintain traffic flow along the roadway.

The Upper Cow Creek Road and Milo area, as well as a small area along the Tiller-Trail Highway north of Trail in Jackson County, are under a Level 1 (Ready) evacuation alert. Drew (milepost 28 to 39) remains at Level 2 (Set).

Structure protection resources and the OSFM Green Team personnel demobilized today after determining that protection benchmarks were met. Mitigation efforts included creating defensible space around threatened homes, fuel chipping, strategic placement of portable water tanks and pumps and placement of sprinkler kits where necessary. Fire managers also ensured that a structure protection plan is in place for both the assigned wildland resources and county fire agencies. Two structure task forces from Douglas County are available if needed.

More than 1,500 personnel are assigned to the fire suppression effort. The cost of suppression so far is $12.1 million.

The Stouts Creek Fire is burning on private timberlands, other tracts of private land, Bureau of Land Management and Umpqua National Forest lands.

The Stouts Creek Fire is being managed cooperatively by the Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service. Wildland fire suppression direction is coming from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 1.

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